Five great Myrna Loy performances to catch on DVD

“The Thin Man” (1934): If you haven’t seen this classic screwball caper, what on earth are you waiting for? Sheer, martini-soaked pleasure, from start to finish. Five sequels follow it, none quite as good as the original (though “After the Thin Man,” the second film, is pretty great, too).

“Manhattan Melodrama” (1934): History was made in this jaunty caper: William Powell and Loy met on-screen for the first time, jumping into the back seat of the same car. (More history: “Most Wanted” gangster John Dillinger was fatally shot by FBI agents while exiting a Chicago theater after seeing this movie, a fact MGM was happy to trumpet in its ads for the film.)

“Love Crazy” (1941): More screwball, with Powell in drag (he’s pretending to be crazy) and Loy the picture of perfection, as usual.

“The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946): Not a comedy (and no Powell), but the performance of which Loy said she was most proud. She touchingly portrays a World War II wife, facing complicated emotions as her husband returns home.